Greatest War Movie Ever Made

Rating: 10/10 (25 May 2002)

As far as I am concerned, this is the best war film ever made. I never tire of it and watch it every June 6th. Filmed in a semi-documentary approach and in black and white, I always feel I am watching a documentary of the real D-Day invasion and not a motion picture. The film has more impressive action sequences than probably any other war film, before or since. Some standouts include: The French Commando raid on the French village, Oestram, the disasterous 82nd. Airborne division drop on Ste. Mere Eglise, the 2 Luftwaffe planes strafing what seems like miles of beaches, the U.S. Ranger Division climbing Pointe Du Hoc, the British Glider attack on Pegasus bridge, etc. etc. I'm sure that many will be confused by the scenes I have just described. But if you've seen this film or know anything about D-Day, than you will know what I am talking about. Blessed with an impressive cast (many of whom are, unfortunately, not with us anymore,) including John Wayne, Robert Mitchum, Henry Fonda, Richard Burton, Sean Connery, Robert Wagner, etc. etc., this film was producer Darryl F. Zanuck's towering achievement. This film just lost the 1962 Best picture Oscar to Lawrence of Arabia. As great as that film was, this is a better and more important film. It is unreal that these two great epics should have gone against each other. One last thought, however. Since Saving Private Ryan was released, The Longest Day has been criticized basically for not having the same type of carnage (realism) that Ryan had in its Omaha Beach segments. However you simply could not do that type of thing in 1962. As great as Saving Private Ryan is, The Longest Day is a film that will live forever. See it this D-Day.